Chennai:
Union government has expressed its keenness to declare and upgrade entire East Coast Road which connects Chennai and Kanniyakumari as National Highway if Tamil Nadu government gives its nod.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and shipping Pon Radhkrishnan after reviewing National Highway Projects in Tamil Nadu and Kerala here on Saturday, said that nearly 600 Km of the stretch which is with the state government could be converted into National Highway if the state submits necessary proposals.
At present only 153km out of 738.4km is under National Highway and the remaining is with the State government.
He also recommended out of court solution by National Highway Authority and the state government to settle the deadlock over Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project.
The state government has to allocate 18 km of road. Till now only 6 km of land has been allocated. Some of the land across Cooum has yet to be acquired.
The minister also stated that the proposal for upgradation of 115km of Madurai-Ramanathapuram section of NH-49 is under consideration of the ministry and a foundation stone would be laid soon.
Radhakrishnan also said that new projects for widening and improvement of 430km of National Highways at a cost of rs 400 crore have been approved during the last six months for out of which works also commenced for 290 Kms in Tamil Nadu. Work on remaining project is expected to be commenced shortly.
The minister also stated that Rs 390 Crore has been sanctioned to Tamil Nadu under Central Road Fund (CRF) and two new projects under Inter State Road Connectivity Scheme -- Kanniyakumari (TN) to Palaya Uchakkadai (Kerala) for 71.5 Km and Parasseri - Monday Market – Pudukkadai, worth Rs. 150 Crore have also been sanctioned.
He also announced that Rs 112.08 Crore has been sanctioned for the State of Puducherry from the Central Road Fund during the year 2014-15.
He also expressed concern on the slow progress of the ongoing projects in the State of Tamil Nadu, consisting nearly 1000 Kms with an outlay of about Rs 7000 Crore. The minister said that during the last nine months, the pace of construction of National Highways in the country has improved to 10.3 Km per day as against 5.1 Km per day achieved during the year 2013-14.
He also informed that the Central Government has taken a decision to close down 62 Toll Plazas in the country where either the capital cost has been recovered or the concession period is over.
The minister also urged the state government to sign the State Support Agreement, which is a pre-requisite for awarding projects under PPP mode so that it will help the Concessionaires to get funds from the lending agencies.
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